In Pictures: Hong Kong protesters' last stand

Police in Hong Kong attempt to retake streets after 2.5 months of protests.

Thu Dec 11 2014 11:00:09 GMT+0000

On Thursday, Hong Kong authorities started clearing the main pro-democracy protest site.

Hong Kong authorities have started clearing barricades from a protest camp across a busy highway as part of a final push to retake streets occupied by activists for two and a half months.

After protesters ignored a deadline to disperse, police announced a "lockdown" of the area, saying anyone who remained at the site faced arrest.

The workers removing the barricades were carrying out a court restraining order calling for barriers to be dismantled and obstructions removed from three sections of the protest site.

Barricades in an occupied area outside government headquarters are removed.

Government workers remove a banner at an area blocked by pro-democracy protesters near the PLA headquarters.

Watched by the police, workers in white helmets used box cutters and pliers to remove plastic ties from the barricades.

The workers were carrying out a court restraining order calling for barriers to be dismantled and obstructions removed from three sections of the protest site.

Hong Kong(***)s student protest leaders said on December 10 that they would (***)stay to the end(***) as police prepared to swoop down on the city(***)s main rally site after more than two months of mass pro-democracy demonstrations.

(***)If the government wants to use police to clear the site, don(***)t forget, the clearance can(***)t resolve political conflicts, it can(***)t resolve society(***)s dilemma,(***) said Joshua Wong, the protest leader.

The dismantling of barricades at Hong Kong(***)s main protest site comes after more than two months of pro-democracy rallies that demonstrators say have redefined the city(***)s vexed relationship with Beijing.

Police say 655 people have been arrested and 129 officers injured in the past two and a half months.

Public support for the protests is waning because of the problems caused by the road blockades.